John Swinney flies to US to call for lower whisky tariffs

John Swinney has flown to Washington to try to reduce import tariffs on Scotch whisky in the US.  

Tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump’s administration are set at 10 per cent for most UK goods, including whisky. 

The first minister will meet industry and political leaders in the US capital today. It’s unclear whether he will meet the president. 

The last-minute trip comes less than two weeks before Trump’s state visit to the UK. 

Despite the tariff rate imposed on the UK being comparatively lower than that of many other countries, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has been calling for an exemption or a loosening of the rules set for the key Scottish export.  

In a meeting with Trump during the president’s visit to Scotland in July, Swinney urged him to consider economic protections for Scotland’s whisky and salmon sector. 

Ahead of his trip yesterday, the first minister said, “we succeeded in putting whisky firmly on the trade agenda” during his meeting with the US president in July, and he “pledged to do whatever I could to help get a better tariff deal”. 

Last night, Swinney met with the British Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson, and stayed in the UK Embassy in Washington overnight.  

Swinney said: “The negotiations themselves are, of course, for the UK negotiating team, but during this trip we are partnering with industry to promote the interests of Scotch whisky – a key economic interest and iconic Scottish product – and make the case for a better tariff deal.   

“We will argue that the reduction of tariffs is in the interests of the United States as well as Scotland. The United States is the largest market for Scotch whisky but Scottish distillers also spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year buying Bourbon casks from Kentucky.   

“With President Trump’s state visit imminent, these are critical days on which hopes of a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky rest. We are here to make sure we have done everything possible to get the best deal for Scotland.”     

The SWA has said that around a fifth of Scotch whisky is exported to the US, suggesting the market was worth £971m in 2024. It is estimated that tariffs cost the industry £4m per week. 

The SWA chief executive, Mark Kent, said: “The first minister’s visit to the United States to press the case for removal of Scotch whisky tariffs is a positive and timely intervention ahead of the President’s forthcoming state visit to the UK.      

“The current 10 per cent tariff is costing the Scotch whisky industry £4m a week in lost exports, with businesses losing out on investment, employment and growth. Scotch whisky and US whiskey share a close and longstanding trade relationship, and industries on both sides welcome the first minister’s leadership on this issue and his efforts to strike a deal which will benefit communities in Scotland and across the US.”